How to Combat Dry Skin Under Beard Once and For All

In 3 must-do steps that smooth out skin and soften those scraggly beard hairs.

Facial hair is a man’s pride. And while others might say your unshaven face is a sign of laziness, you know otherwise. Unfortunately, there might be something else that’s distracting you from enjoying the beastly beauty of your beard. Have you noticed yourself scratching your chin or cheeks more than usual? Or maybe worse, you’ve been noticing dry flakes on your shirt after scratching, and your skin might even feel painful! Luckily it’s quite easy to combat dry skin under beard, and the right grooming ritual will help you feel like a champion again.

What causes dry skin under beard?

There are many reasons why your skin might feel drier than usual. First off, the shampoo or face wash you use on it might actually be the culprit. Harsh detergent ingredients like sulfates may leave you feeling squeaky clean, but can cause irritation and strip too much necessary moisture from your skin. The result is dry and flaky skin that desperately needs more moisturizing.

At the same time, not cleansing enough can cause dry skin under beard too. Your skin regularly sheds its cells, and dead skin cells can easily get trapped among beard hairs. This is why your skin might be extra coarse and flaky. Not washing or exfoliating your beard enough can also increase your risk of more serious skin conditions. For example, if your hair follicles get clogged, you might find yourself fighting keratosis pilaris. A bacterial or fungal infection might lead to folliculitis. That said, you should probably tackle that dry skin before it develops into a bigger problem. You’ll need a gentle yet hardworking cleanser to clear away those annoying flakes to reveal softer, new skin.

Finally, some cleansing habits such as washing your beard with hot water and letting it air dry may be drying your skin out. Hot water opens up your pores and causes your skin to lose more sebum. Air drying your skin afterwards just makes it worse. And are you even following up with a beard oil or lotion? There’s a lot that you can do to make the situation better.

How to treat dry skin under beard

1. Wash

Taking care of your prized beard isn’t as simple as dashing it with a handful of water. Pay attention to both the products you’re using, as well as your technique. Evaluate the label of your shampoo or soap for any harsh chemical ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. We recommend swapping them out for a gentle cleanser featuring natural ingredients. It’ll easily do the job, while also helping to fight your dry skin.

Massage the cleanser into your skin once or twice a day for a good minute to remove dead skin cells, excess oil, and under gunk. Rinse with cold or warm water. Make sure to pat your skin dry with a soft towel, and follow up with a moisturizer.

Charcoal Clay Cleanser from 100% Pure
Cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free
What’s not to love about the sleek packaging of this cleanser? Sometimes dry skin is a sign that your skin is in need of a detox, and the bamboo charcoal and activated charcoal powder accomplish exactly that. A deeply purifying cleanse that still leaves your skin calm and moisturized, thanks to the spearmint and lemongrass oil.Beard Wash by Mountaineer
Cruelty-free
If you need a cleaner alternative to your usual beard shampoo, this might be your new go-to. Instead of stripping your beard and skin of their natural oils, this shampoo cleanses gently yet thoroughly, and comes in 4 different masculine scents. We’re digging the use of jojoba oil and sunflower oil that condition both your skin and hair without clogging your pores.

Honest for Men Beard Wash from Maple Hill Naturals
Cruelty-free
Prefer a bar soap instead? Luckily this one is free of any unsavory ingredients you’d prefer to avoid treating your beard to. Tames scraggly hairs and promotes your beard’s natural shine. The shea butter is especially soothing for dry skin, as it deeply conditions without leaving your feeling greasy.

2. Exfoliate

Whether you do it daily or just a few times a week, exfoliating can make or break how your skin feels. Exfoliating means clearing away the dead skin cells on your skin surface. They shrivel up and contribute to the dryness you feel. Even worse, they might clog up your pores and hair follicles, leading to infection. Exfoliating is especially a savior during the winter months, when the cold air from outdoors and dry air from indoor heating cause your skin to dry out more quickly.

You can easily incorporate exfoliation into your beard-washing routine by using a beard brush. After applying a beard wash to your skin, gently scrub through with a beard brush. If you need more of a deep cleanse, you might want to invest in a high quality facial scrub. Trust us, it’s worth the silky softness that your skin will be afterwards.

Best beard brushes

Vegan Beard Brush from Golden Beards
Vegan
This brush is made from the natural fibers of the agave plant that make for a soft to medium bristle, perfect for exfoliating your skin without hurting it. It’s perfect if you’re looking to fight that itch. Comes with a long, hand sculpted hardwood handle that’s perfect for reaching into longer and bigger beards!

Synthetic Bristle Beard Brush from Bona Fide Beards
Reviewers actually say that this synthetic brush is much more soft and gentle on the skin than the traditional boar hair option. This beard brush is a real multitasker. It easily tames knots, gently exfoliates skin, and distributes beard balm evenly for a more luxe-looking and sculpted beard.

Facial scrubs

Brilliantly Brightening Facial Scrub from Acure
Cruelty-free, vegan
If you’re fighting dry skin, chances are that your face is extra sensitive too, so just your everyday synthetic ingredients won’t make the cut. Luckily this facial scrub from Acure uses organic sea kelp and lemon peel to gently exfoliate, with antioxidant-rich blackberry and pomegranate extract that help your skin recover.

Exfoliating Face Scrub from Andalou Naturals
Cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free
A new launch from Andalou Natural’s new men’s collection, featuring the latest formula in clean beauty. It contains an antioxidant-rich blend of hemp stem cells that promote repair and deeply condition skin. And check out the vitamin C in this formula that comes in its most stable and high quality form—magnesium ascorbyl phosphate.

3. Moisturize

Now here’s the fun part: moisturizing your beard! Just as with your skin, it’s important to moisturize your beard after a wash. You wouldn’t want your scraggly hairs drawing out the important natural oils away from your skin, leaving you in a flaky mess. Plus, using a beard oil or balm also serves as a styling tool that lets you sculpt your beard into a smooth work of art.

After washing, remember to apply a moisturizer all over your face to help tame those dry flakes. Before using your beard oil or balm, be sure to first use a beard comb to detangle your beard, and help distribute natural oils throughout. This ensures that all parts of your beard are evenly moisturized, without leaving you with greasy patches in some spots. Next, apply your oil or balm and brush through to distribute evenly. Finally, step outside a new man.

Beard oils and balmsBeard Tonic Vetiver + Sage from Herbivore
Cruelty-free, vegan

A little goes a long way for this beard oil. Vitamin-rich apricot, argan, and jojoba oil are incredibly light yet deeply moisturizing on dry skin and scraggly beard hairs. It also includes a dose of vitamin E to help get you starting on healing dry cracked skin and moisturizing it for the long run.

Maracuja Oil & Shea Butter Beard Balm from Shea Moisture
Cruelty-free
Looking for a conditioning beard balm that won’t leave you feeling sticky? This excellent formula contains deeply repairing maracuja oil and shea butter that are light and fast-absorbing feeling. Yet they leave skin feeling soft and renewed, and are able to easily tackle any rough, tangled beard hairs.Beard & Stache Balm from ArtNaturals
Cruelty-free
This beard balm is the perfect follicle-friendly companion to keep in your pocket for your best sculpted look. In addition to the usual argan and jojoba oil, it also boasts super-moisturizing mango butter to keep skin and hair lubricated all day long. It’s finally time to say adios to that beard dandruff.

How to prevent dry skin under beard

Succeeded in smoothing out your dry skin? Don’t stop at your grooming routine yet. Regular maintenance is key to ensuring both your skin and beard are in tip top condition. Here are some more of our top tips to making sure that dry flaky mess or beard dandruff will not make a second visit:

• Always dry your skin and beard, and moisturize them before going out, especially in cold weather. The cool dry air is sure to quickly strip precious moisture away from your face!
• Do wash your face and beard every day. This prevents build up of dead skin cells and other gunk that can lead to dryness and infection.
• Examine the ingredients of the products you use on your face. Eliminate anything that includes possible skin-irritating or drying ingredients, as well as harsh chemical ingredients.
• Keep your body in prime shape with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and enough sleep. 

Growing a beard doesn’t have to be a painful, itchy situation. And you deserve more than the daily dash of cold water on your face before you run out the door. You deserve to indulge in a regular grooming routine that calms down your skin and leaves your beard looking like brand new.

Get ahead of the game with more guides on the art of grooming:

The 9 Best Shaving Soaps for Men in 2018: Featuring luxurious lather, natural ingredients, and fresh masculine scents.
5 Best Natural Deodorants for Men that are Hassle-Free: Because having one that’s simple and actually works is something to be proud about.
10 Best Organic Shampoos to Fix Up Your Hair Health: Too many bad hair days? It’s time that you pay more attention into what goes on your scalp.